Influence of COVID 19 on Nursing Students’ Career Identity: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 has affected students’ education because they are more likely to be exposed to such infectious diseases during clinical practice in hospitals. This may result in inaccurate knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 among nursing students and foster negative attitudes and fears about the virus, potentially resulting in negligent patient care. Objective: This study elucidates the relationship between nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, and fear of coronavirus disease 2019 and their career identity. Methods: We used structured self-reported questionnaires to assess knowledge, attitude, and fear about Coronavirus disease 2019 and career identity among 223 nursing students. We analyzed data using a t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Satisfaction with the actual clinical practice (β=0.35, p<0.001), knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 (β=.25, p<.001), attitude toward coronavirus disease 2019 (β=.17, p=.002), and fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (β=.39, p<.001) influenced students nurses’ career identity. Career guidance programs are needed to positively transform nursing students’ fear of Coronavirus disease 2019, to enhance their career identity. Educational content that can be used during clinical practice should be developed, to improve professional knowledge. Thus, the nursing students’ satisfaction with practice can be nurtured with a change of attitude toward infectious diseases. Besides active efforts and institutional arrangements at the national level, cooperation and feedback between schools and hospitals are important for nursing students to form a desirable career identity. Conclusion: Nursing students’ fear, knowledge, and attitude toward Coronavirus disease 2019 and satisfaction with the practice influence career identity. Moreover, it is necessary to develop educational content that can be used during clinical practice and improve professional knowledge. This will nurture the student nurses’ practice satisfaction and induce a change in attitude toward infectious diseases. Cooperation and feedback between schools and hospitals are of paramount importance for student nurses to form a desirable career identity, in addition to active efforts and institutional arrangements at the national level.